For one person, living is cheaper in Afghanistan: $550 a month against $1,832 in Italy, rent and utilities included – about $15,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Italy and in Afghanistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $1,832 per month in Italy vs $550 in Afghanistan, rent included.
Italy $1,832
Afghanistan $550
A couple spends around $2,809 per month in Italy vs $740 in Afghanistan, rent included.
Italy $2,809
Afghanistan $740
A family of three spends $3,787 per month in Italy vs $930 in Afghanistan, rent included.
Italy $3,787
Afghanistan $930
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Italy ($1,163–$2,537) than in Afghanistan ($24–$496), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Italy is about 233% higher than in Afghanistan on average.
📊
Italy sits 35% above the global median, while Afghanistan is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.47€18.22
$2.28؋148
797.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.9€70.2
$10.70؋696
637.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.23€10.00
$3.80؋247
195.53%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.11؋138
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$7.46؋485
-
Cappuccino
$2.04€1.82
$0.94؋61.3
117.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09€2.75
$0.44؋28.89
602.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34€1.19
$0.18؋11.68
644.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.71€5.09
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.43€4.83
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57€1.40
$0.88؋57.2
78.41%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39€2.13
$0.26؋16.88
819.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.85€2.54
$1.85؋120
54.05%
Eggs
$4.19€3.73
$1.58؋103
165.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.06€15.19
$4.82؋313
253.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.49€11.12
$3.71؋242
236.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.30€18.08
$6.74؋438
201.19%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61€2.33
$0.67؋43.51
289.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.18€1.94
$0.94؋61.4
131.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59€2.30
$1.07؋69.7
142.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.31€2.95
$0.56؋36.36
491.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.01€1.79
$0.62؋40.26
224.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.82€1.62
$0.50؋32.46
264.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57€1.40
$0.37؋23.87
324.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52€0.46
$0.37؋24.25
40.54%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.89؋123
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74؋47.82
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.05؋68.4
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.74€6.00
$2.36؋154
185.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.91€7.04
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.56
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.10
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95€1.74
$0.32؋20.84
509.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$42.83€38.13
$14.41؋937
197.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.53€4.92
$1.50؋97.6
268.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71€1.52
$0.47؋30.76
263.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.80€30.10
$1.66؋108
1936.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.85
$1.16؋75.4
79.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K€32.0K
$8,400؋546.2K
328.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.2K€33.1K
$33.7K؋2.2M
10.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$231€206
$52.6؋3,417
340.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.80€10.51
$13.79؋897
-14.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.94€26.65
$163؋10.6K
-81.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.0€47.22
$9.77؋635
442.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.61€21.02
$4.07؋265
480.10%
Cinema Ticket
$10.75€9.57
$2.60؋169
313.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$566€504
$20.38؋1,325
2676.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.6K€15.7K
$1,598؋103.9K
1000.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.8€80.9
$13.14؋854
591.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.57€34.35
$17.61؋1,145
119.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103€91.9
$44.15؋2,871
133.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$130€115
$32.76؋2,130
295.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$829€738
$116؋7,513
617.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630€561
$91.3؋5,936
590.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377€1,226
$202؋13.2K
580.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,050€935
$114؋7,380
825.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,650€3,250
$659؋42.8K
454.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,306€2,054
$352؋22.9K
555.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Italy
Afghanistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,951€1,737
$262؋17.0K
645.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.55
18.22
-80.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Italy: November 2, 2026
Last update for Afghanistan: October 31, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$630 34.4%
Afghanistan
$91 16.6% ↓ 85.5%$539
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$347 18.9%
Afghanistan
$103 18.8% ↓ 70.2%$244
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$279 15.2%
Afghanistan
$43 7.9% ↓ 84.4%$236
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$273 14.9%
Afghanistan
$229 41.7% ↓ 16%$44
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$163 8.9%
Afghanistan
$48 8.8% ↓ 70.3%$115
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$75 4.1%
Afghanistan
$15 2.7% ↓ 79.9%$60
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$65 3.5%
Afghanistan
$20 3.6% ↓ 69.8%$45
🏠Accommodation & Living
Italy
$1.1K 27.7%
Afghanistan
$114 12.2% ↓ 89.2%$937
🛒Groceries & Markets
Italy
$821 21.7%
Afghanistan
$252 27.1% ↓ 69.4%$570
🍽Eating Out
Italy
$962 25.4%
Afghanistan
$140 15.1% ↓ 85.5%$822
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Italy
$285 7.5%
Afghanistan
$243 26.2% ↓ 14.6%$42
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Italy
$362 9.6%
Afghanistan
$108 11.6% ↓ 70.3%$255
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Italy
$173 4.6%
Afghanistan
$34 3.7% ↓ 80.3%$139
🚌Getting Around
Italy
$133 3.5%
Afghanistan
$40 4.3% ↓ 70.2%$94
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $728 in Italy vs $91 in Afghanistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,348 in Rome and $125 in Kabul.
💰Average salary: $1,908 in Italy vs $229 in Afghanistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 700% higher in Italy.
⭐Dining out costs 564% more in Italy.
⭐Public transport is 258% more expensive in Italy.
⭐Salaries are about 8.3 times higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Italy vs Afghanistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Afghanistan or Italy?
Afghanistan is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 70% lower on average.
Is rent more expensive in Afghanistan or in Italy?
Housing costs more in Italy: a central one-bedroom averages $728 versus $91 in Afghanistan.
How do daily expenses compare in Afghanistan vs Italy?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Afghanistan – part of why living there is about 70% cheaper overall.
Which country is better for expats: Afghanistan or Italy?
Afghanistan is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.